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Community Based Ecotourism Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo The MESCOT Initiative is fundamentally concerned with

protecting the forest habitat, wildlife and biodiversity of the

Lower Kinabatangan while preserving the livelihood of the

local population. The MESCOT Initiative was founded by the

local indigenous people (”Orang Sungai”) of the Batu Puteh

community in 1997 who formed a village-based cooperative

(KOPEL Ltd) in 2003 to coordinate the villager’s conservation

activities and their community-based ecotourism activities.

KOPEL seeks external funding to sponsor the MESCOT

Initiative Forest Habitat Restoration and tree planting

activities. KOPEL funds its own program of Lake Restoration

and removal of Salvinia molesta. This activity is supported by

the income generated by its ongoing ecotourism and

volunteer activities.

The community of Batu Puteh and biodiversity conservation in

the Lower Kinabatangan is indebted to the hard work of all

local villagers and volunteers alike, as well as the ongoing

support of visitors and private and government agencies that

support this initiative.

For more information or to arrange a stay contact KOPEL Office

Borneon Pygmy Elephants migrate the Lower Kinabatangan and through the forests surounding Batu Puteh 2-3 times per year

The Lower Kinabatangan A fascinating part of Borneo and Asia, the massive Kinabatangan River flows swiftly for 560km out of the

rugged mountainous interior of the Island to the north-east coast in the Malaysian State of Sabah. Most

of its upper reaches are steaming uninhabited jungles. The Lower Kinabatangan slows immensely to

meander through an endless floodplain. Constantly inundated this area today forms the agricultural

heartland of Sabah.

What remains of the native rainforests along the floodplain is both unique and amazing, for its geography, rainforest biodiversity, and the astounding array of wildlife species still able to survival in the ever changing landscape. Take a walk through out website, or better still come at visit us, to learn about Borneo’s tropical rainforests, our diverse cultures, and help us save this remarkable part of our planet....